OHIO CDC ASSOCIATION (OCDCA) 2018 VISTA REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) Fully completed proposals must be submitted by 5:00 pm on January 19, 2018. The application form contains five tabs of basic organizational or project questions. Please review these before inputting information, as you are not able to save your work. You will then be able to upload two files: one Word file of this application document and one PDF file that contains your organization s articles of incorporation, list of current board members, and VISTA project supervisor s resume. The application is available here: https://www.formpl.us/form/5679499989483520 For questions or technical assistance, please contact Melissa Miller, Associate Director at mmiller@ohiocdc.org or by phone at 614-461-6392 ext. 209. Please read ALL information carefully as the OCDCA VISTA Project has incorporated substantial changes when compared to previous years. Note: This will be your ONLY opportunity in 2018 to apply for full-year VISTA support. 1. Introduction The Ohio CDC Association welcomes current, good standing members to submit an application to become a sub-site to the OCDCA VISTA Project to begin summer 2018. Funding, which has yet to be secured, for the OCDCA VISTA Project is provided by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), US Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI), and the Ohio Development Services Agency (ODSA) through the Ohio Housing Trust Fund (OHTF). Limited slots are available; therefore, this is a competitive process and we will reserve some slots for housing only and rural only initiatives. For information on becoming a member please contact Melissa Miller, Associate Director at mmiller@ohiocdc.org or by phone at 614-461-6392 ext. 209. 2. Background The CNCS VISTA Program mission statement is to increase capacity for low-income people to improve the conditions of their own lives. OCDCA partnered with CNCS in 1995 as an intermediary organization to OCDCA member sub-site VISTA hosts. VISTA Members make a year-long, full-time commitment to serve on specific projects. VISTA Members do not provide direct service to low-income individuals but instead focus their efforts on building organizational, administrative, and financial capacity for organizations that fight illiteracy, improve health services, foster economic development, strengthen community groups, and otherwise assist low-income individuals and communities. VISTA Members mobilize local resources to achieve lasting solutions to poverty through grant-writing, program development, and volunteer recruitment and training, among other activities. Ohio CDC Association (OCDCA) 2018 VISTA Request For Proposals (RFP) Due January 19, 2018 1
Activities focus on achieving impactful outcomes on the community and/or beneficiary population and are meant to be sustainable once the VISTA Member(s) have completed the project. Capacity building is defined as tasks and activities to create, expand, or strengthen systems or processes in order to increase an organization s ability to function effectively to meet its mission. The length of a sub-site VISTA project can be a maximum of three (3) years from development to sustainability. Most projects go through the following three (3) phases: (1) research and planning, (2) implementation, (3) handing the project off from the VISTA to the community or organization. Sub-site VISTA projects are considered for renewal on a year-to-year basis, depending on the availability of resources, program performance, and the priorities of CNCS. VISTA Members cannot displace staff positions or staff duties. VISTA Members will receive a modest living allowance, health coverage, and the choice of either an education award or an end-of-service stipend upon completion of service. They may be eligible for child care benefits and a relocation allowance if travelling more than 50 miles to serve. In addition, VISTA Members can attend nearly all OCDCA trainings free of charge. 3. Purpose The Ohio CDC Association VISTA Project will be centering activities around the following focus areas: (1) Economic Opportunity, (2) Healthy Futures, and (3) Environmental Stewardship. These CNCS approved focus areas direct the OCDCA VISTA Project Goals outlined in Section 4. The Ohio CDC Association VISTA Project has identified need within the three focus areas as described below. Economic Opportunity According to the 2015 Assets and Opportunity Scorecard released by Prosperity Now, Ohio maintains an income poverty rate well above the national rate of 14.7 percent. Additionally, 44.7 percent of Ohio families are liquid asset poor while the national average is 43.5 percent. A 2014 report from the National Housing Conference, Center for Housing Policy indicates that 13 percent of Ohio households are cost burdened, spending more than 50 percent of annual income for housing costs. Among low-and moderate-income working households, 17 percent spend at least half of their income on housing costs and 24 percent of Ohio renters also face cost burdens for housing. For these households, cost burdens diminish the availability of resources to secure other essentials including food, healthcare, and transportation. Healthy Futures According to a 2015-released U.S. Department of Agriculture report, 16.9 percent of Ohio households have struggled with food insecurity, which is well above the national average, and sixth worst in the nation. Additionally, this same report indicates that 7.5 percent of Ohioans have struggled with very low food security, which is the third worst in the nation. Likewise, the Ohio State University Food Innovation Center found that 17.3 percent of Ohio s population is food insecure. Another study conducted by Ohio State University Extension Center finds that 24 percent of rural Ohio households live outside of a 10- minute drive to a retail grocery store, while 3.8 percent live within driving distance but do not have Ohio CDC Association (OCDCA) 2018 VISTA Request For Proposals (RFP) Due January 19, 2018 2
4. Goals access to a vehicle. These rural Ohioans also tend to have lower per capita incomes than those who live closer to grocery stores. Nearly 23 percent of Ohioans live in rural areas. Environmental Stewardship Energy inefficient homes account for high energy costs. Energy costs are consuming the after-tax household incomes of Ohio s low- and middle-income families at levels comparable to other necessities such as housing, food, and health care. In 2013, Ohio households with annual incomes below $50,000, representing 54% of Ohio s population, spend an estimated average of 21% of their after-tax income on energy, which is an increase from 2010. Energy bills for the poorest households earning less than $10,000 represent 73% of their family incomes, before accounting for any energy assistance programs, found the American Coalition for Clean Coal Energy. The following are the current OCDCA VISTA Project goals as approved by CNCS. The OCDCA Project Goals were developed based upon the identified need outlined in Section 3 above. Ohio CDC Association VISTA Project Goals 1. To build the capacity of CDCs to provide affordable housing. 2. To build the capacity of CDCs to increase employment opportunities. 3. To build the capacity of CDCs to provide housing counseling. 4. To build the capacity of CDCs to increase and maintain assets for individuals. 5. To build the capacity of CDCs to increase access to fresh and healthy foods. 6. To build the capacity of CDCs to increase energy and water efficiency in housing. 5. Program Overview The following is pertinent information regarding the program. This will assist you in completing the application to become a sub-site to the OCDCA VISTA Project. If selected as a VISTA sub-site more information will follow. 5.1 Program Requirements VISTA Members serve full-time for one service-year and are not to provide direct service, which is defined as the act of providing services to the identified recipients or clients of a program. VISTA Members will begin service at your sub-site on the tentative date of June 29, 2018. VISTA Members serve full-time for one service year (365 days). If for any reason or point in time a VISTA Member must discontinue service a sub-site cannot receive a replacement VISTA and must wait until the next VISTA RFP to apply for a new VISTA Member. The program fee is a $1600 yearly rate per VISTA Member and will be paid in quarterly installments. However, depending on funding this rate is subject to change. Ohio CDC Association (OCDCA) 2018 VISTA Request For Proposals (RFP) Due January 19, 2018 3
The VISTA Assignment Description (VAD), filled out as part of the application, will be used to guide the VISTA Member and sub-sites during the term of service. It will outline the activities that will be conducted to achieve the OCDCA Project Goals. The goals must come from the OCDCA VISTA Goals outlined in Section 4. You may use as many goals as you like. The VAD will only outline the activities that will be performed in one service year, even if your sub-site VISTA project is longer than one year. The VISTA Member must have a full-time staff person act as their supervisor, to whom they directly report. VISTA Members are required to work a minimum of 37.5 hours per week. The sub-site must provide its assigned VISTA with reasonable resources, including desk space, supplies, telephone access, computing and office equipment, and an environment that conforms to all relevant workplace related health and safety laws. The sub-site must reimburse VISTA for any on-the-job related expenses the VISTA member incurs are to be reimbursed. VISTA Members are required to attend Pre-Service Orientation (PSO) prior to beginning service at your subsite on the tentative dates of June 25 29, 2018. Accommodations will be made and paid for by CNCS. Sub-site supervisors, identified as part of this application are required to attend sub-site VISTA supervisor training in Columbus: March 2018. The exact date is to be determined. If your organization applies to become a sub-site to the OCDCA VISTA Project please save this date as attendance is MANDATORY. VISTA Members are forbidden from participation in religious instruction or proselytizing and from participation in political activity (partisan or nonpartisan) while on duty or perceived to be on duty as an AmeriCorps VISTA. VISTA Members and sub-site VISTA supervisor are required to attend the OCDCA Annual Conference in the fall of 2018. Conference registration and hotel accommodations for VISTA Members will be provided by OCDCA. For the sub-site VISTA supervisor, conference registration will be provided by OCDCA. In addition to the OCDCA Annual Conference, VISTA Members are required to attend at least one OCDCA training. Under most circumstances VISTA Members will abide by your organization s office policies, or equivalent. More VISTA information can be found here: https://www.vistacampus.gov/ 5.2 Examples of Appropriate VISTA Member Activities Build partnerships with local public and private sector organizations/businesses. Help to develop sponsor infrastructure which may include developing new programs and/or updating existing ones. Recruit, train and coordinate part-time volunteers. Write grant applications for funding and other resources and solicit donations and other in-kind support for sponsor programs that are directly involved with pulling people out of poverty. Publicize/market the sub-site VISTA project. Ohio CDC Association (OCDCA) 2018 VISTA Request For Proposals (RFP) Due January 19, 2018 4
Create community events to support the project. Mobilize resources in and outside the community in support of the project. Promote project sustainability by focusing on building the capacity of individuals, organizations and the community. 5.3 Examples of Prohibited VISTA Member Activities Displace paid staff. Supervise employees. Provide individual services to a limited number of clients. Conduct one-on-one literacy tutoring or program intake. Have direct involvement in drafting/negotiating agreements between organizations or individuals relative to the sub-site VISTA project. Have the sole responsibility for mobilizing financial or material support. They may assist in generating this support. 5.4 Timeline (dates subject to change) VISTA Sub-Site Application Due: January 19 Award Notification to OCDCA from CNCS: February 2018 Award Notification to Sub-Sites from OCDCA: February 2018 Recruitment Begins: March 2018 Sub-Site Supervisor Training in Columbus: March 2018 VISTA Member Selection and Paperwork due to OCDCA: April 18 VISTA Pre-Service Orientation (PSO): Tentative date of June 25 28 VISTA Member Begins Service at Sub-Site: Tentative date of June 29 5.5 Good Standing An organization is disqualified from receiving a VISTA if the organization is not a good standing voting member with OCDCA. Not being in good standing is described as owing an outstanding and unresolved financial obligation, having outstanding or unresolved material deficiency, or having had a grant or cooperative agreement involuntarily terminated or non-renewed with the OCDCA. In addition, all VISTA subsites are approved not only by OCDCA but also by CNCS. 5.6 Recruitment Recruitment will follow VISTA sub-site selection. The Project Description filled out as part of the application will be used by OCDCA to post the position to the CNCS online application database. It will be up to sub-sites Ohio CDC Association (OCDCA) 2018 VISTA Request For Proposals (RFP) Due January 19, 2018 5
to recruit locally via newspaper ads, posting openings at local universities, etc. in order to place a suitable VISTA Member. 5.7 Reporting All VISTA Members are required to submit a monthly timesheet and VAD, and any supporting to documentation upon request to OCDCA. Additional fees for failing to comply can be charged. 5.8 Evaluation Criteria Successful completion of application via terms outline in these instructions. Appropriateness of VISTA activities and milestones as outlined in the Narrative and VAD. Clear understanding of CNCS VISTA mission. Clear understanding and use of OCDCA VISTA Project goals. Clear understanding and use of OCDCA VISTA Project milestones. Builds organizational and/or community capacity that will address poverty alleviation. Suitable explanation of how the sub-site VISTA project will become sustainable over 1 3 years, upon VISTA Member withdrawal. Describes in measurable terms the milestones of the sub-site VISTA project in year one. 6. Portal Questions The following is the list of questions found on the application portal. These are for review purposes only. Do not upload your answers in a document. Organization s Name Street Address 1 Street Address 2 City State Zip Code Phone Fax EIN Number Supervisor s First Name Supervisor s Last Name Supervisor s Title Supervisor s Phone Supervisor s Email Authorized Contact s First Name Authorized Contact s Last Name Authorized Contact s Title Authorized Contact s Email Ohio CDC Association (OCDCA) 2018 VISTA Request For Proposals (RFP) Due January 19, 2018 6
Number of Requested VISTA Members Are you applying for a new VISTA project? If yes, how long will your sub-site project take to go from development to sustainability? Are you applying for continued VISTA support for a current VISTA project? If yes, what year of your VISTA project are you applying out of the total years needed to complete the project? Timeline: Your organization understands the timeline outlined in Section 5.4 and does not anticipate any issues meeting the timeline, especially as it relates to recruitment and the MANDATORY sub-site supervisor training. Supervisor: Your organization understands that its assigned VISTA Member is to have one supervisor that is employed full-time with your organization. Reporting: Your organizations understands the sub-site and VISTA Member reporting requirements outlined in the Section 5.7 and does not anticipate any issues. Expenses: Your organization understands any on-the-job related expenses your VISTA Member incurs are to be reimbursed. What is your current mileage rate? What is the projected VISTA Member travel frequency and distance? Office Policies: Your organization understands that VISTA Members are to abide by your organization s office policies, or equivalent, under most circumstances. Workspace: Your organization understands that the sub-site must provide its assigned VISTA with reasonable resources as described in Section 5.1 Program Requirements. Will your organization provide free parking for the VISTA Member? Has your organization received any CNCS resources not from OCDCA within the past 5 years? If yes, please explain. Has your organization ever received an OCDCA AmeriCorps VISTA? If yes, please explain, including program supported. Are 51% or more of the persons on your Board of Directors members or representative of the low-income community? If not, please explain how your agency has developed or will develop a separate advisory committee for the subsite VISTA project that consists of members or representatives of the low-income community that is responsible for providing input into the project planning and implementation. Ohio CDC Association (OCDCA) 2018 VISTA Request For Proposals (RFP) Due January 19, 2018 7